Bowling game



Dec. 7, 1943i P. URMY l BOWLING GAME Filed oct. 2e. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .HUE

P. URMY BOWLING GAME Dec. 7, 1943.

Filed 0st. 26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOA ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1943. l P. URMY BOWLING GAME Filed oct. ze. 1942 IN V EN TOR.

*Il Il VVV //////Jm/ 3A Sheets-Sheet 3 FERC/vm. URMY BY vea ArraveA/Ex Deco 79 a srr FFHCE Claims.

My Invention relates to improvements in a game mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a substantially automatic game mechanism which can be played by one or more persons without the need of anyone tending the machine. With this in mind my invention consists of various automatically controlled parts arranged to operate in ordered sequence to accomplish this purpose.

In the drawings, in which similar reference nu'.- merals refer to similar parts, I have shown one form in which my device may be embodied, although it is obvious that changes may be made in details and still be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. y

In these drawings: y

Fig. l is a general plan view oi one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical elevation; Y

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the relation of my device to an alley;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View of the setter,

taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of -the playing table, taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; r

Fig. 8 is a partial view in vertical section of the conveyor side; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line V H--Vll of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the gate taken. on the same line as Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the playing table taken on the line lX-IX of Fig. 5;. and

Fig. l0 is a similar view of the loading rack taken on the line X-X of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown in cross-section the principal parts in their operative relationship, one to the other. Of course, the size and detailed construction of any part may be varied, but these figures illustrate their general operative relationship.

The numeral l designates a playing licor or alley which may be of the size usually employed in bowling alleys, or may be the size of a miniaturejgame such as is common now in amusement places.A My invention is such that it lends itself to embodiment in large scale or small scale form.

In general, the rules followed in the playing of this game are those applicable to the game of bowling. in place of the usual pins I employ balls Il, which by suitable means are placed on playing table ilvfrom whence the player lattempie to dislodge them with the play bau la, which is lmpellcd in the direction of the arrow Id. Alley l@ may be bordered by walls Illa, or by troughs.

In order to hold balls II, of which there are usually ten, on playing table I2, shallow recesses or Indentations I5 are provided. In the bottom of the indentations under the balls are holes I6, each with a pin-I1 extending therein, and adapted, when table I2 drops, to lift out any balls II remaining therein. As shown in Fig. 9, pins I1 are carried by plate Ila mounted rigidly below table Iii so that the latter moves downward and upward in relation thereto. Pin I1 in the rst recess is made hollow so that switch pin i8 may slide therein. When the head ball II is not in this first recess, pin I8 will project above the bottom of the recess about level with the surface of table l2. When in this position, pin I8 permits the upper contact Isa of switch I9 to open the circuit to solenoid 2@ (see Fig. 2). When the circuit of switch l@ is thus open, solenoid 20 is de-energized and its armature 2l pivoted at 22 to playing table l2 falls, allowing the latter to drop into the dotted line position. 'I'he playing table is suitably hinged to alley I0 at 23 to per-- mit this. The inclination of playing I2 when in this lower position is such that any lballs remaining in the recesses i5 will be rolled out of them by pins Il and down into trough 254, whence they will travel to the hopper 3@ at the bottom oi the lifting belt The spring tension on switch member I8a is such that pin I@ will movedownwardly whenever a ball li is placed in the recess above it. This closes the circuit to solenoid 2li, which holds the playing table I 2 in its upper position almost on a level with alley floor it.

Hand switch 2t with switch members 2l, 2d is provided on the players end of the device so that if at any time the player desires to remove balls il from the recesses in playing table I2, he may open the contact by depressing switch member 2d, which de-energizes solenoid 2d and drops playing table lli. l

The balance of the mechanism has to do primarily with the cycle of conducting the'balls Il from trough 2t and placing them in recesses I5 on playing table I2. Before describing this portion oi' the apparatus, I shall explain briefly the operation of the mechanism so far described.

The player usually employs two play balls i3 which are preferably large:` than the playing pieces (balls) Il. If the rst play ball thrown should knock head ball l i from its recess, the

II from its recess, with the described results en- A suing, it would be considered a spare If the first ball thrown does not dislodge head ball II from its recess, playing table I2 will remain in its upper position. If the second ball thrown likewise does not disengage head ball II, but knocks other of the playing pieces II from their recesses, the score will be on the basis of the number of pieces knocked out of their recesses. The slight inclination of table I2 in its upper position will cause these balls to roll into trough 24. In order, then, to remove the balls remaining in recesses I5 on playing table I2, the player will press switch to open the circuit of solenoid 20, and thus drop playing table I2 into its lower dotted line position, so the pins I1 can dislodge the remaining balls into trough 24.

-I shall now describe the mechanism employed to take the balls from trough 24 and bring them into properposition in the ten recesses I5 on playing table I2.

Trough 24 empties the balls 'II and I3 into hopper 30, the floor of which is inclined toward the upright wall member 3| through which there is an opening 32 with an inclined floor. Lifting belt or conveyor 25 has ledges 33 set at less than a right-angle to the edges of the belt so as to cause balls I I and I3 to rub against vertical wall l 3| as they are being carried on the belt to the upper hopper 34 into which they fall from belt 25.

Adjacent each side oi' the opening 32 Ain vertical wall 3| are shutters or gates 35, 35, suitably interconnected by a shaft at 35a so that when one is moved upwardly the other moves upwardly. The normal position of these shutters (see Fig. 7) is such that shutter 35 closes the opening 32 and holds one ball in the recess and the next ball to it in the hopper isv positioned so that shutter 35, when lifted, will hold the last-mentioned ball in the hopper (see Fig. 8). Thus, when shutter 35 is lifted to allow ball I I in recess 32 to roll onto belt 25 and against ledge 33, shutter 35 will move upwardly and hold back the next ball so that only one ball at a time is emptied onto belt 25. When shutters 35 and 35 move downwardly, shutter 35 releases the ball it held and it moves into hole 32, and by the time itis in there, shutter 35'has closed off the end of opening 32 and holds the ball preparatory to the next opening of shutter 35. Shutters 35 and 35 are lifted by means oi a lug 31 secured on the side lof shutter 35. Lug 31 is engaged by ledge extension 33a after lt rounds the lower tumbler 38 and these parts are so arranged that a ball II or I3 rolls out of opening 32 at the proper time to roll against ledge 33 and be carried up the full length of the conveyor, from whence it is discharged as belt 25 rolls over tumbler 33.

To prevent balls II and I3 from becoming wedged in hopper so they will not flow into hole 32, I prefer to hinge hopper 30 at the end .remote from hole 32 and by means of lug 35a onshutter to impart a jiggling action to hopper 30. Fig. 8 shows the hopper lifted and Fig. 'I shows it dropped and in its normal position. This lifting and dropping each time gate 35 opensl assures against any jamming of balls II and I3.

Lifting belt 25 may be moved by any suitable and convenient source of power. For example, I show the motor with belt 8| driving tumbler 38. I'he motor circuit is controlled by switch 82 (see Fig. 2) which in turn is closed by foot 83 secured on the bottom of playing table I2. When the latter drops, .foot 83 closes the motor circuit and belt 25 runs until the head ball II is deposited in its recess on playing table I 2 and depresses switch pin I8 which lifts table,|2 and opens the circuit to motor 80.

If desired, the motor 80 could run continuously.

As the balls fall one by one into hopper34 when discharged from belt 25, they travel down inclined trough 40 and fall either into trough 4I or trough 42. The playing pieces II are preferably smaller in size than the play ball I3. Balls II fall from trough 40 into trough 4 I. Balls I3 fall into trough 42 through opening 43 in the bottom of trough 40 which is placed directly over the end of trough 4I. Since hole 43 is smaller than balls I3, the latter will roll farther along trough 4I) until they empty into trough 42.

As balls II fall into trough 4I, they move into the ten recesses 44 in sliding rack 45 which lies directly above the perforated .bottom of trough 4I. `The bottom of trough 4I has ten openings 41 which are arranged to be aligned with holes `44 in sliding rack 45 when it is desired to empty balls II from the rack. The normal position of rack 45 is such that the divisions 48 between each perforation 41 will lie across the bottom of recesses 44 and thus hold balls I I in rack 45. When rack 45 is moved to the left, balls II will fall out of trough 4I. A suitable spring 49 urges rack 45 to the right and in the position where it closes the bottoms of openings 44.

It is possible to control the sequence of discharge of balls II from trough 4I by varying the spacing of divisions 48 and holes 41. For example, I prefer that the ball which is to be the head ball shall precede the other balls in reaching its recess I5 on playing table I2. For this reason (see Fig. 10) the division 43 between the iirst and second perforations 41 is narrower than the divih sions between any other two balls. It means that as rack 45 moves to the left the iirst ball will drop first because recess 44 will align with perforation 41 ahead of any other.

Lying directly beneath each perforation 41 in trough 4I is a tube 50 leading to one of the holes 5I in the ball setter 52. These holes 5I in setter 52 are in register with recesses I5 in playing table I2, so that when setter 52 drops to its lower position shown in dotted lines, balls II will be placed properly in the ten recesses I5.

Trough 42 which receives play balls I3 from trough 40 is hinged at 53 to upright wall 54. Its other end is suitably supported by a member 55 secured to trough 4I. Thus, (see Fig. 2) as trough 4I drops to its dotted line position, trough 42 will move into its dotted line position and in doing so, will move below stop 55 and allow play balls I3 to empty into hinged trough 51. vThe latter is hinged at 51a to a rigid member supported from the iloor or baseboard of the structure. Trough 51 has lower depending arm 58 adapted to engage the end oi.' sliding racl: 45. Trough 51 is sustained in the full line position by means of the weight 53 diagrammatically illustrated as acting through a line 50 and pulley 5I.

Trough 4|, rack 45, setter 52, and connecting tubes 50 may bel arranged as an integral unit and suspended by means of weight 52 diagramdrawings.

maticaily shown as acting 'through lines e3 and et secured to the corners oi' setter di. Weight t2 is calculated to support setter t2 and its attached parts in the full line position shown in the drawings until ten balls Ii have fallen into the rack 45 and the play balls il? have fallen into trough Q2 against stop tt. The weight of these dozen balls then overcomes weight 52 and setter 52 settles into the dotted line position over playing table i2. As setter 52 begins to settle onto table I2y a suitable mechanism is provided which will close the circuit ci a hold-- down device to assure that setter remains in the dotted line position until the balls Ii are all deposited in recesses It in playing table it,

I have illustrated one form ci mechanism to accomplish this, which comprises a cam mem ber t secured to the bottom of setter 52 and adapted to engage bell cranlr armature (tt and to lift the latter so that its member @l engages contact t8 and closes the circuit to hold-down solenoid t9 which acts on setter 52 through depending amature i@ suitably secured to 52 at Il. This hold-down circuit is maintained closed until balls I I have been carefully deposited in recesses i5.

As setter 52 was settling into table' i2, playing balls I3 rolled out of trough d2 as they came from behind stop S6. The weight of balls i3 with relation to weight 5t is such that they will move hinged trough t into the dotted line position and'cause arm 58 to open rack dit. This discharges balls H from rack d5 and they pass down tubes 5U into recesses l5 on playing table I2. As balls IS continue rolling down trough 5i', they are fed into trough 'lb, which leads the balls i3 back to the player.

Suitably arranged adjacent trough 5th is a switch mechanism 'I2 with its contacts normally closed'. As balls I 3 roll down trough blb they engage projection i3 which opens the contacts of switch 72 and breaks the circuit to relay it, thereby separating contacts E?, t8 and cie-enerm gizing hold-down solenoid SQ. This allows the weight 52 to lift setter 52 away from playing table I2 into the full line position shown on the Thus, by means of switch 'I2 suitably placed in trough lb to be contacted by balls i3 after balls I I have had suihcient time to come to rest in recesses I 5, I provide an automatic release of setter 52 and return of troughs di, Q2 and their associated parts to their raised position. The operation of the loading mechanism just described is such that as the balls il and play balls I3 are loaded into the rack d5 and trough 42 respectively, their weight overcomes weight 62 and lowers setter 52 onto playing table i2. This lowering movement releases balls I3 from trough i2 4and their first movement while in trough 57 actuates rack t5 to release balls ii so they pass down tubes t@ into recesses l5 on table I2. As balls i3 continue on their Way toward the player, they engage switch member i3, which releases the positive hold-down means b9 and setter 52 is lifted by its weight t2 Where it remains until the cycle is repeated.

What I claim is:

1. In an amusement apparatus the combination of a playing table, means for tilting said table, recesses on the surface of said table for receiving a plurality of balls, means movable toward and from said table for loading said balls thereon and means on said table for initiating the lifting of the same when said means is engaged by a ball while it is still retained in said loading means.

2. In an automatic game device the combination of a playing table, loading and setting means suspended above said table adapted to hold a plurality of balls, means forlowering said last-named means adjacent said table, means for holding said setting means in its lowered position, means for releasing a playing ball while said setting means is being lowered, means actuated by said playing ball after its said release for opening said holding means to release the balls contained therein, and a second means actuated by said playing ball to release said setter holding means when said balls have been discharged lonto the playing table.

3. In an automatic amusement device the combination of a playing table, a perforated trough having a rack therein, a setter, a hold-down mechanism therefor, a conveyor, a plurality of balls co-mprising playing pieces and playing balls, means for guiding said playing pieces into said rack, a hinged trough supported by said rack, means for conveying said playing balls into said trough, a counter-balance means. which supports said rack and setter when empty, and which permits said rack and setter to lower itself when all of said balls are in place, a gate to release the playing balls in said trough when said rack and setter are lowered, means actuated by said balls upon their release, which moves the rack in said perforated trough to drop the playing pieces to the playing table, and a second means actuated by said balls to Arelease the hold-down, on said rack and setter.

4.. In an amusement device the combination of a hinged playing table having a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive a ball, balls-for said recesses, releasable means for supporting said table, and means actuated by one of said balls when removed from its recess for controlling said release.

5.' In an amusement device the combination of a tiltable playing table having a plurality of shallow recesses each adapted to receive a playing piece, electrical means for supporting said playing table, a source of electric energy, and a circuit control means actuated by one of said playing pieces to close said circuit and energize said electrical means whenever said playing piece is in its recess.

6. In an amusement device the combination of a tiltable playing table having a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive a playing piece, a

hole ofl less diameter than said playing pieces j extending through said table adjacent each recess, means positioned beneath said playing table to project' upwardly through said holes whenever said table assumes its tilted position, wherebyl any playing pieces remaining in said recesses will be ejected therefrom.

7. In an amusement device the combination of a tiltable playing table, electrical means for supporting the same, a plurality of recesses in said table each adapted -to receive a playing piece, one of said recesses having means to open and close the circuit to said electrical means, a setter carrying said playing pieces adapted to be lowered over said playing table and means on said setter for releasing the playing piece which is to be deposited in the last-named recess ahead of the release of the other playing pieces, whereby said electrical means will be energized and will lift said table into its upper position substantially as it `receives the remaining playing pieces in their respective recesses.

8. In a game mechanism the combination of a setter having a plurality of spaced perforations, a perforated rack adapted to receive a plurality of playing pieces, means for carrying each playing piece to its respective perforation in said setter, perforated closure means having one of its perforations spaced in closer relation to a cooperating perforation in said rack than the others, whereby said perforation comes into alignment in advance of the other perforations to release one of said playing pieces in advance of the release` of the others.

9. In a game mechanism the combination of a frame, 'means for mounting a setter in said frame, weighted counter-balances adapted to support said setter 'in a normally upward position, means for conducting a plurality of playing pieces into said setter, an electrically actuated holding means, means when said setter begins to settle due to the weight of said playing pieces overcoming said counter-balance, for closing the circuit to said holding means whereby said setter will be held in its lower position throughout said setting operation.

10. The combination of a tiltable playing table having a plurality of recesses therein each adaptcd to receive a playing piece, electrical means for lifting said table into playing position, circuit closing means actuated by one of said playing pieces for effecting operation of said electrical lifting means, an `automatic playing piece setter mechanism adapted to be lowered into position adjacent said playing table to deposit said playing pieces and to be lifted therefrom after depositing said playing pieces, including a setter having perfrations in alignment with the aforementioned recesses, a rack having a corresponding number 'of perforations adapted to receive said playing pieces, a perforated member lying beneath said rack, each perforation in said member communicating with a corresponding perforation in said setter, said rack being movable to release the playing pieces so they drop into the perforations in said setter, a trough supported by said setter mechanism adapted to receive playing balls, trough means for conducting playing pieces and said playing balls into said rack and into said trough respectively, weight means for holding said setter mechanism in its upper position, the weight of said playing pieces and playing ball being calculated to over-balance said weight means and thereby lower said setter adjacent said playing table, a hinged trough in alignment with'the trough supported by said setter mechanism and carrying said playing balls, means for releasing said playing balls into said hinged trough when said setter mechanism is lowered adjacent said playing table, the weight of said playing balls as they pass down said hinged trough actuating the rack in said setter mechanism, a trough for conveying said playing balls to the players end of said machine, a conveyor mechanism for lifting said playing pieces and playing balls into the trough from which they are emptied into the rack and trough carried by the setter mechanism, motor driven means for operating said conveyor, a control circuit for said motor, means for closing said circuit when the playing table is in itstilted lowermost position, means for conveying said playing pieces and playing ball to said lifting conveyor, and means actuated by said lifting conveyor for admitting the playing balls and playing pieces thereonto one at a time.

. PERCIVAL URMY. 

